USA > Michigan > Cass County > History of Cass county, Michigan > Part 94
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Horace Nicholson, Cass County, Mich., April 27, 1837 80
SECTION 33.
Samuel Hutchings. Portage County, Ohio, Oct. 1, 1835. 80 William Wilson, Niagara County, N. Y., May 14, 1836. 120
Hazen Whittier, Rockingham County, N. H., July 15, 1836 ... 80 Lazarus Everhart, St. Joseph County, Ind., July 16, 1836 .. 156 Marvin Hannahs, Oneida County, N. Y., July 25, 1836. 108 Daniel Pease, St. Joseph County, April 21, 1837 80
SECTION 34.
John Bair, St. Joseph County, Ind., Oct. 16, 1832. 132 William D. Jones, Seneca t'ounty, N. Y., Nov. 18, 1835 72 John Bair, Cass County, Mich., July 14, 1836. 80
William Jones, Ashtabula County, Ohio, July 21, 1836. 126 Roger Wilson, Cayuga County, N. Y., Feb. 26, 1836 80 John Bair, St. Joseph County, Ind., Dec. 14, 1836. 76
SECTION 35.
Daniel Driakell, Casa County, Mich., Aug. 5, 1834. 40 John Orr, Livingston County, N. Y., Sept. 15, 1835 80 William D. Jones, Seneca County, N. Y., Nov. 18, 1835. 80 Daniel Driskell, Cass County, Mich., March 2, 1836. 40 Hazen Whittier, Rockingham County, Vt., July 7, 1836 ... 113 William Jones, Ashtabula County, Ohio, July 21, 1830. 80 Oris Murdock, Madison County, N. Y., July 22, 1836. 40 Adolphua Chapin, St. Joseph County, Ind., Jan. 18, 1837 40 Heman B. Brownell, St. Joseph County, Ind., April 3, 1840 .. 40
SECTION 36.
Daniel Driskell, St. Joseph County, Ind., Oct. 17, 1888 .. 80 Abram Moe, Washtenaw County, March 31, 1836. 40 Otis Murdock, Madison County, N. Y., July 22, 1836. 80
ACRES.
Alva l'ine, Washtenaw County, July 22, 1836 80 Alex A. Weatherwax, Schenectady County, N. Y., July 22,
1836 40 Chauncey Wood, St. Joseph County, Ind., July 27, 1836 ... . 3:2t
The township of Newberg was created by an act of the State legislature, approved March 6, 1838, the enacting clause reading as follows : " All that part of the county of Cass designated in the United States Survey as Township No. 6, south of Range 13, west, be and the same is hereby set off, and organized into a separate township by the name of Newberg, and the first township meeting shall be held at the house of John Bair, in said township."
Much of the land in this township was originally owned by speculators, which postponed the advent of . permanent settlers and greatly retarded its develop- ment and growth. Hence, it was one of the last town- ships in the county to receive a population sufficiently large to warrant its separate organization. Previous to the year 1836, the country remained comparatively an unbroken wilderness, with no inhabitant, save the Indians, who traversed the forests in pursuit of game, and seldom pitched their wigwams for any great length of time within its borders.
The surface is rough and hilly, in many localities the hilly peaks rising to a considerable height. There were no extensive plains, or open prairies, to invite the early settler, but on the contrary the greater por- tion of the township was covered with a very heavy growth of timber. The soil is what miglit be denomi- nated a gravelly clay, with many small stones scattered over its surface, and often large bowlders may be seen. Notwithstanding the roughness of the country, the well-filled granaries bear witness to the productive qualities of the soil, which is adapted to all the cereals raised in this latitude, and affords the husbandmen abundant remuneration for his labors. According to data contained in the annual report of the Secretary of the State of Michigan, we glean the following facts relative to farms and farm products :
In 1880, the number of acres of laud in farms in the township of Newberg, were 15,682, of which 9,488 acres were improved, and 6,194 unimproved ; whole number of farms 188, and the average number of aeres in each farm, 83.41. The number of acres of wheat produced in 1879, were 3,413, which yielded 64,228 bushels, making an average yield per acre of 18.82 bushels ; for the same year there were 260 acres of clover, with a yield of 330 bushels ; 80 acres of po- tatoes, with a yield of 9,563 bushels; 1,028 acres of meadow, with a yield of 1,216 tons of hay ; and in 1880 there were 1,625 acres of corn produced, with a yield of 85,449 bushels of ears ; 565 acres of oats, with a yield of 13,224 bushels.
EE
426
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
From the same source we obtain the following statements in regard to live stock :
In the month of May, 1880, there were in the town- ship, 425 horses, 357 milch cows, 355 cattle, other than milch cows, 933 hogs, 1,440 sheep. There were also 447 acres of apple orchard, from which there were 5,394 bushels sold; and the number of pounds of grapes sold were 4,500.
This township was named by John C. Saxton, in hon- or of a town in Ohio, of which he cherished pleasant memories, but the orthography of the last syllable, which is usually spelled " burg," was changed to " berg," at the suggestion of Horace Nicholson.
The following comprises a list of the personal and real estate of the resident tax-payers of Newberg in 1838.
NAMES.
PERSONAL.
REAL.
John Grinell.
$ 60
$ 240
Micajiah Grinell.
60
189
Julius E. Nicholson
10
150
Spencer Nicholson.
100
228
Oliva Nicholson
10
132
Jeremiah Rudd
115
213
John Hurd
245
1536
Barker F. Hurd
245
240
H. William
245
120
Samuel Hutchings
85
591
Abram Hutchings,
75
216
Lewis Powell.
75
303
Jasen Powell
85
395
W. D. Easton
92
360
Ira Warren
182
834
Owen Deall
162
232
Joshua B. Cory
140
358
Nathan Harwood
47
92
Alexander Allen
105
453
Hiram Harwood
135
120
George Poe
113
480
Reason B. Brody
112
480
Peter Van Scoye.
30
120
William Poe.
112
890
Isaac Sprague
52
240
Asa Curtis
110
290
Dudley Jones
85
290
Daniel Driskel
85
480
William D. Jones
200
834
Jefferson Hagerman.
20
834
Miner Jones.
25
834
John Bair.
150
855
Enoch Baum
40
855
Allen Miller
00
120
VILLAGES.
Within the township of Newberg there are two small villages-Jones and Corey.
Jones is situated on the Air Line Railroad, on Sec- tions 34 and 35. The section line road, running north and south between those sections, forming the main street. The first business structure was put up by H. Micksel, about 1871, and used for a grocery and saloon. The next business building was built by
David Fairfield, who kept a general stock of goods, and did business in it until it was burned. R. C. Sloan and William Meacham erected the next, and ran a general store. H. B. Doust erected the next, and conducted a general store. The next store, built by John Bair, is now occupied by A. L. Dunn, who car- ries a general stock. The next was by W. Leckner, for a meat market, which is now occupied by H. B. Doust as a drug store. The next by S. P. King, and is used by him as a shoe shop at this time. Henry Giddings, the blacksmith, occupies a building put up by the Arney Brothers. The hotel was built by David Fairfield, who kept it as a public house for a time. It is now used for the same purpose, and is occupied by J. S. Tompkins. Doty & Tims conduct the harness business. H. D. Long keeps a general store in the Doust building, and is doing an extensive business. The hardware business is represented by Thomas & Long. This village was platted by E. H. Jones, hence its name. It contains at the present time a population of 118.
The village of Corey was surveyed and laid out on the 4th day of April, 1872, by Amanda Weatherwax. It is situated on the Air Line Railroad, on Section 36. The first business building was put up by Capt. Hazen Brown, in 1873. He and his nephew, C. R. Crawford, were the first merchants. Corey, at the present time, contains one general store, George W. Watkins, proprietor, and one blacksmith shop, Wash- ington Plummer, proprietor. It has about fifteen dwelling-houses and a population of forty-four. It possesses a good depot, a post office, and a Grange hall.
Dyer, a flag station on the Air Line, on Section 33, has no business interests, but is used only as a stop- ping place for the accommodation of passengers. It was so christened for J. M. Dyer, whose farm and residence is located here.
POSTAL SERVICE.
As there were no villages in the township of New- berg until long after its organization, the first post offices were, as a matter of necessity, kept at private houses. The first postal route established through the township was the one running from Centerville to Niles, in 1836, and the first post office was at the house of R. Crego, located on the southwest quarter of Section 21. A. L. Dunn succeeded him, he hav- ing purchased Crego's farm. A. L. Dunn resigned in favor of William H. Barnum, who was the third and last at this place. The office was then removed to E. H. Jones', on Section 34, in 1870, and E. H. Jones was appointed Postmaster.
The office is now at Jones Village, and R. C. Sloan
427
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
is the present Postmaster. There is also a post office at Corey Station.
SCHOOLS.
Realizing the importance of education, schools were established at an early day, and some of the school- houses constructed of logs, but they have all been sup- planted with frame buildings, with which the nine school districts are supplied, and they have a total seat- ing capacity of 423. The number of children between the ages of five and twenty years are 562; and there was paid for their instruction during the last fiscal year, to male teachers, $785 ; female, $815.50. The school property is valued at $5,955. Vol- umes in public libraries, 336.
The physicians of the township have not been numerous, the practice having been done by doctors who were located in the towns and villages adjacent to this section. The first physician to locate and re- main in the township was Thomas L. Blakely, M. D. Dr. Blakely has been in the township for many years, and is at the present time a practicing physician and resident of Jones. He has been intimately indentified with the business interests of that place ever since it started.
The other professions are not represented.
Dr. Reubin Schutz, who first located at Corey, then moved to White Pigeon, located in Joncs some two years since, and is one of the leading physicians.
Corey Grange, No. 291, was organized February 27, 1874, at what was known at that time as the Lake House, a public house on the banks of Corey Lake: Its charter was issued by the National Grange at Washington, on the 7th day of July, 1874, and re- ceived and recorded by the State Grange, August 1, of the same year. The organization was removed from the Lake IIouse to Corey September 24, 1874, where it still remains. The society perfected its incorporation on the 17th of April, 1880. The first officers of this Grange were as follows : A. P. Shepardson, M .; H. W. Brown, O .; Grandville Knevels, L .; I. E. Wing, S .; G. B. Rockwell. A. S .; A C. Shepardson, C .; J. T. Ilay, S .; C. R. Craw- ford, S .; C. W. Furgason, G. K .; Nancy Harwood, C .; Hellen Shepardson, P .; Maranda S. Brown, T .; Lois L. Parker, L. A. S. The Grange numbers sixty members at present.
RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.
The Methodist Episcopal Church of Newberg Town- ship was organized in the Baptist Church, at Poe's Corners, in 1872, and belonged to the Cassopolis Circuit from that time until 1876, when it was set off to Marcellus Circuit, to which it belongs at this time. At the time of the organization, James Webster was
the pastor in charge. The meetings were held for a time in the Baptist Church, before mentioned, and afterward at David Fairfield's store, at Jones. David Fairfield was the first leader, and continued in this position until December 30, 1876, at which time Il. J. Ferguson was appointed, who is the present leader. The ministers who have labored in this society are Revs. James Webster, I. Willson, - Eddy, A. M. Eldrid, J. White, J. Hoyt, W. P. French, and J. R. Skinner. The names of the original members are as follows : David Fairfield, Louisa Fairfield, M. E. Tharp, Phoebe Dyer, Elizabeth Pound, Sarah Rum- sey, J. E. Van Buren, Esther Brooks, Elsey Bows, Mrs. Alexander, Jacob Rumsey, Andrew Correll, S. Todd, Margaret Todd, Catharine Cook. During Rev. I. Willson's labors there was a revival of religion, at which time forty-four joined the Church, making a membership of sixty-one at the close of his meetings. There has been a Sabbath school connected with the Society ever since the organization. Church services and Sabbath school are held, at the present time, in the hall at Jones.
First Regular Baptist Church was organized in Newberg Township June 8, 1841. By request of the Baptists of Newberg Township, Cass County, a coun- cil convened, composed of delegates from the follow - ing Churches, viz. : Centerville, Bro. J. Redway ; Pleasant Lake, Elder J. Price, Bros. B. Mead, M. Sherell, and J. S. Brown ; Schoolcraft, Elder William Taylor ; Constantine, Bros. William Churchill, Will- iam Blair, William Arnold, A. Churchill, R. Church- ill ; La Grange, Elder William T. Bly, and Bros. E. Quick, G. Allen, Z. Mott, L. Forsyth, Cross Sher- man, S. O. Brown and T. Vance ; Liberty, Bros. J. Colyer, M. Zone, and M. Reams. The council duly organized the church under the name of "The First Baptist Church of Newberg." Elder William Taylor delivered the discourse, Elder Jacob Price gave the right hand of fellowship, and Elder William B. Brown delivered the charge to the church, to which fifty persons attached themselves at this time.
Previous to building the church, meetings were held in the schoolhouse, in District No. 9, and private houses. The society built a very neat little church at Poe's Corners, in 1858. The grounds for building were purchased from Andrew Stetler, in Section 28.
The following-named persons have served as pas- tors: Elders John Wright, John Frisby, II. Cook, J. W. Miner, L. II. Tobridge, John Kirby, and Elder Kendall, who is the present pastor.
The society is at the present time in a flourishing condition. A Sabbath school has been connected with the church, nearly all the time since its organi- zation.
428
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
METHODIST PROTESTANT SOCIETY.
The Newburg Circuit of the Methodist Protestant Church was detached from the St. Joseph Circuit, and organized into a separate one, October 15, 1869. The organization meeting was held at the Corey Lake Schoolhouse, Rev. Whitney Hough being the preacher in charge, and David P. McKee, Secretary.
The circuit consists of six classes, as follows : Vic- tory and Newberg Center, of Newberg Township; Watkins, Mount Desire, of Fabius and Bent, of Flowerfield Township, St. Joseph County.
The following pastors have served on this circuit : Revs. Whitney Hough, William Kelley, Samuel Phillips, Mr. Newell, R. S. Moulton, J. P. Goodrich, and Samuel Reeves, the present pastor. Present church membership, 174. Having no house of wor- ship, services are held at schoolhouses and in the Town Hall.
CIVIL LIST.
The following are the principal township officers, elected since its organization to 1881.
SUPERVISORS.
1838, James Aldrich ; 1839-40-41, County Com- missioners ; 1842, Hiram Harwood; 1843, Hiram Harwood; 1844, Hiram Harwood; 1845, Hiram Harwood ; 1846, Barker F. Rudd ; 1847, Barker F. Rudd; 1848, Barker F. Rudd; 1849, Barker F. Rudd; 1850, Hiram Harwood; 1851, Barker F. Rudd; 1852, J. M. Chapman ; 1853, J. M. Chap- man; 1854, J. M. Chapman ; 1855, S. Harwood; 1856, S. Harwood: 1857, Edward H. Jones ; 1858, Edward H. Jones; 1859, James Chapman ; 1860. Barker F. Rudd; 1861, Silas Harwood; 1862, Silas Harwood ; 1863, James Chapman ; 1864, James Chapman ; 1865, J. M. Chapman ; 1866, J. M. Chapman; 1867, J. M. Chapman ; 1868, J. M. Chapman ; 1869, Anson L. Dunn ; 1870, Anson L. Dunn; 1871, J. M. Chapman; 1872, W. H. Pem- berton; 1873, Silas Harwood; 1874, J. S. Tomp- kins; 1875, N. Harwood; 1876, F. M. Dodge; 1877, Anson L. Dunn; 1878, Lemuel Chapman ; 1879, Lemuel Chapman ; 1880, B. L. Rudd (and W. H. H. Pemberton, by appointment) ; 1881, Nathan Skinner.
TREASURERS.
1838-39, no record -of who was elected; 1840, Ira Warren; 1841, Ira Warren; 1842, Andrew Stetler ; 1843, J. E. Nicholson ; 1844, Ira Sprague ; 1845, Ira Warren ; 1846, George F Jones ; 1847, A. S. Munger; 1848, A. S. Munger; 1849, A. S. Mun- ger ; 1850, A. S. May; 1851, Ira Warren; 1852, J. Grinell ; 1853, J. Grinell; 1854, J. Grinell ; 1855, James Churchill : 1856, James Churchill ; practically useful to himself and others by teaching.
1857, J. Grinell ; 1858, J. Grinell; 1859, J. Gri- nell; 1860, Sullivan Cook; 1861, Hazen W. Brown ; 1862, Nathan Harwood ; 1863, Silas Harwood ; 1864, H. A. Crego; 1865, H. A. Crego; 1866, M. F. Burney; 1867, A. L. Dunn; 1868, A. L. Dunn; 1869, H. A. Crego; 1870, H. A. Crego; 1871, N- Harwood; 1872, N. Harwood; 1873, J. S. Tomp- kins; 1874, W. H. Pemberton; 1875, W. H. Pem- berton ; 1876, C. D. Arnold; 1877, Robert C. Sloan; 1878, C. D. Arnold; 1879, C. D. Arnold ; 1880, Daniel H. Pound; 1881, John A. Mills (and by appointment, William M. Harwood).
CLERKS.
1838, Isaac prague; 1839, George Poe ; 1840, W. D. Easton ; 1841, W. D. Easton ; 1842, W. D. Easton; 1843, W. D. Easton; 1844, W. D. Easton ; 1845, W. D. Easton ; 1846, Julius Nicholson ; 1847, Julius Nicholson ; 1848, Julius Nicholson ; 1849, Julius Nicholson ; 1850, William D. Easton; 1851, T. V. Bogart ; 1852, T. V. Bogart; 1853, William D. Easton ; 1854, William D. Easton ; 1855, E. H. Jones ; 1856, E. H. Jones ; 1857, Silas Harwood ; 1858, Silas Harwood; 1859, O. C. Gillett ; 1860, O. C. Gillett; 1861, O. C. Gillett ; 1862, O. C. Gillett ; 1863, Eli Hathaway ; 1864, A. L. Dunn ; 1865, Eli Hathaway; 1866, A. L. Dunn; 1867, Horace Francis ; 1868, Sylvester Mihill; 1869, John B. Warren; 1870, John B. Warren; 1871, H. A. Crego; 1872, F. M. Dodge; 1873, F. M. Dodge; 1874, F. M. Dodge; 1875, F. M. Dodge ; 1876, B. Walker; 1877, Fred P. Dunn; 1878, S. Mihills ; 1879, Samuel W. Breece ; * 1880, Samuel W. Breece ; 1881, Allen P. Boyer.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
JAMES M. CHAPMAN.
James M. Chapman, while he is not one of the earliest settlers of Newberg, has for nearly forty years been prominently identified with all the material in- terests of the township. He was born in Harrisville, Medina Co., Ohio, February 3, 1818. He was the son of Levi and Lucinda (Turner) Chapman, both natives of Vermont, from whence they came to Ohio about 1817. They were married in Vermont, and at the time of their emigration had three children, two of whom, Scelina, now Mrs. Thomas Birney, and Atnery, are residents of the county, the former living in Marcellus, the latter in Newberg. James received a good common school education, which he made
429
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
In 1843, he was married to Miss Mary Haggerty, of Oneida County, N. Y., where she was born in 1825. After their marriage, Mr. Chapman engaged in busi- ness, but, meeting with a serious misfortune (the loss of his property by fire), he decided to come to Mich- igan and begin life anew.
In May, of 1844, he and his young wife started for Cass County, with their worldly effects loaded in a wagon drawn by a team of horses. They arrived safely at the residence of his brother-in-law, Thomas Birney, with whom they remained until the following August, when he removed to the farm where he has since resided, and which at the time was in a state of nature. There were no roads in this part of the township at the time, and his nearest neighbor was two miles distant. The pioneer life of Mr. Chapman was replete with toil and privations, the land was heavily timbered, and the construction of a farm was a work of great magnitude, but by degrees field after field was added to the " little hole in the wilderness," and industry and perseverance were rewarded. He now has a valuable farm of 200 acres. Mr. Chapman has taken an active interest in all measures tending to the advancement of the interests of Newberg, and has occupied many positions of trust and responsibil- ity. For eleven years he has represented Newberg upon the Board of Supervisors, where he was recog- nized as an able and efficient member. He has also officiated as magistrate for eight years. Both he and his wife are exemplary members of the Baptist Church
of Newberg, and all benevolent and religious enter- prises find in them generous supporters. They have been blessed with two children-IIarvey (deceased) and Franklin.
JAMES M. DYER.
James M. Dyer was born in the town of Oswe- gatchie, St. Lawrence Co., N. Y., July 27, 1834. His father, who was a native of Vermont, was a sol- dier in the war of 1812, and participated in many of the battles. In this engagement, Gen. Scott was wounded and he assisted in carrying him off the field. His mother was born in Canada, and was the mother of seven children-Urias, Elizabeth E., Josiah, Cor- nelius, James M., Caroline and Jane. At the age of fifteen, Mr. Dyer commenced life as a farm hand, which calling he followed for seven years. At the age of twenty-two he was married to Miss Phebe C. Houghtaling, of Newberg. The Dyer family are one of the old pioneer families of St. Joseph County, having emigrated there in 1834, settling in Constan- tine, where they remained until the spring of 1843, when they came to Cass County and settled on the farm where he now resides. They have two children -Ella A., now Mrs. Edgar Wetherbee, and Arthur G. Mr. Dyer has been the architect of his own fort- une ; commencing life without .educational advan- tages and with nothing but strong hands and a firm desire to succeed, he has acquired a competency and built up an honorable reputation. (See illustration.)
430
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
POKAGON SUPPLEMENT.
JOHN RODGERS.
Prominent among the pioneer families of the town- ship of Pokagon is that of Alexander Rodgers, whose history in this county dates back to 1828. He was of Scotch parentage, his father having emigrated from Scotland and settled in Rockbridge County, Va., where Alexander was born. The elder Rodgers was a typical Scotchman, determined, resolute, and pos. sessed of that keen judgment and discrimination that is one of the prominent characteristics of the family. He was educated to the profession of medicine, and was in active practice for many years. Alexander was reared in Virginia, where he was married in 1809, to Miss Peggy Culton, of his native town. The young couple being in quite limited circumstances, they resolved to better their condition by removing to what was then a new country, Preble County, Ohio. The latter part of 1810 found Mr. Rodgers and his young wife on a new farm in the town of Eaton, where John Rodgers, the immediate subject of this memoir, was born in August of 1815. This portion of Ohio was at this time sparsely settled, and on the extreme Western frontier ; the great city of Cincinnati had hard- ly reached the distinction of a village, and although but a child, Mr. Rodgers recollects distinctly the many hardships and privations the family were called upon to endure. The land was heavily timbered, and the construction of a farm was the work of years of patient toil. The elder Rogers had just commenced to realize the fulfillment of his early dreams, when he began to hear glowing accounts of a new country, abounding with fertile prairies, luxuriant with native grasses, belts of majestic timber, oak openings car- peted with flowers, and he became convinced that
beautiful farms located in a rich and beautiful valley, and easily won competencies were within the grasp of himself and family by removing to Cass County. Ac- cordingly, in 1828, he left Preble County, and, after a journey of several weeks, arrived in Pokagon, where he settled on Section 31. He soon became prominent in the affairs of the new settlement, and was elected the first Supervisor of Pokagon, but for reasons stated elsewhere did not serve. He was highly successful in his business operations, and at one time owned about 1,000 acres of land. He died in Pokagon in 1866; his wife died in 1850. John's early life was spent in Preble County, where he shared the priva- tions of a pioneer family. At the time of his father's emigration to Michigan, he was thirteen years of age, he resided at the old home until 1863, when he re- moved to the township of La Grange, where he lived until 1868, when he bought the farm where he now resides. Mr. Rogers has witnessed the transition of a wilderness into a highly productive region, of a thin settlement into a busy and prosperous community, and in his own person typifies many of the agencies that have wrought these changes. In August, 1864, Mr. Rodgers was married to Miss Sarah McCoy, of Ber- rien County. She was born in July of 1842. They have one child, Cory, who was born in La Grange in November of 1865. The life of Mr. Rodgers has been comparatively uneventful, and marked by few changes. He has never sought distinction in any way, but has pursued a line of life, the goal of which has proved a satisfaction ; he has improved his oppor- tunities, and has been highly successful, not only in the accumulation of property, but in the perfection of an honorable record.
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
431
PENN SUPPLEMENT.
GEORGE J. TOWNSEND.
Among the patriots of the Revolution was John Townsend, grandfather of the subject of this biogra- phy. He served during the continuance of that san- guinary struggle, and at its close settled in South Car- olina, where he was married in May of 1783, to Miss Elvira Cain, a native of North Carolina, where she was born in 1768. They remained in South Carolina until 1803, when they emigrated to Warren County, Ohio, from whence they removed to Wayne County, Indiana. Here the elder Townsend died in 1853, in his ninetieth year. His wife attained the remarkable age of one hundred years. Both were exemplary members of the Society of Friends, to which organ- ization they attached themselves shortly after their marriage. They reared a family of twelve children. John Jr., father of George J., was born in Wayne County, Indiana, where he remained until he attained his majority, when he went to Butler County, Ohio, where he was married to Miss Martha, daughter of George and Lydia Jones. In 1829, he came to Mich- igan, in company with his wife's father and mother, and settled in Penn Township, on the farm now owned by Jay Rudd; where he resided until his decease, which occurred in 1835. It was on this farm that George J. was born, in April of 1831. At the age of five years, his father died, leaving his widow and five children in very limited circumstances. Mrs. Townsend was one of those heroic mothers whom ad- versity seems to endow with Spartan energy and cour- age. She managed the farm, and reared her family
to habits of industry and economy, and to the faithful observance of the cardinal principles of her faith. She died in Pennsylvania in May of 1851. George received the elements of his education at the log schoolhouse, which he completed in that other school in which the teachers are observation and experience. At the age of twenty-three he was married to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of John Donnell, of Pennsylva- nia, where she was born in 1833. Donnell was one of those bold, adventurous characters who seem to precede civilization. He was one of the first settlers on Young's Prairie. He was from Clark County, Ohio, and after the death of his wife he went to Illi- nois, and from there to Oregon, where he died in 1867.
Mr. Townsend and his young wife commenced life on a new farm on Section 18. In 1865, they removed to Dowagiac, where for two years he was the proprie- tor of the Continental Hotel. The business not being congenial, he returned to the farm, where he remained until his removal to Vandalia. In 1872 he built the Townsend House, and the following year he estab- lished his bank, in which business he has since been engaged. Mr. and Mrs. Townsend are now in the enjoyment of the full fruition of the anticipations of their early married life. Starting on a new farm, with strong hands and a firm desire to succeed, they have conquered success, and Mr. Townsend occupies a prominent position among the successful business men of Cass County. They have a family of five children-John, Homer, Ethel, Frank and Clyde.
432
HISTORY OF CASS COUNTY, MICHIGAN.
POKAGON SUPPLEMENT.
REV. JOHN BYRNES.
This gentleman, whose name is so prominently men- tioned in the chapter devoted to the educational and religious interests of the county, and to which the reader is referred for many facts not here incorporat- ed, was born in the City of Kinsale, County of Cork, Ireland, May 10, 1815. He was the son of Daniel Byrne (as the name was originally spelled) and Joan- nah Whelton, both natives of the City of Kinsale, where they were extensively and favorably known. The elder Byrnes was an educated gentleman, a law- yer by profession, practising in all the courts in that region ; he took a deep and active interest in political interests and political matters, and was extremely radical in his views. In 1817, he took a prominent part in a political demonstration against the government, which being unsuccessful, he was obliged to flee the country in order to save his life. His property was confiscated, and his family turned into the street, and he took passage with four of his compatriots in a sail boat, and went to
Newfoundland, and from thence to St. Johns, N. B., where he sent for his family, which consisted of his wife and two boys, John and David, who soon joined him. In 1831, the family started for Ohio, but on their arrival at Syracuse, N. Y., he was taken sick and died. His sudden demise changed their plans, and they decided to abandon the original project, and to remain where they were. John was apprenticed to the trade of a carpenter and joiner, and in 1836 went to Toledo, Ohio, where he remained a year, when he came to Niles, where he followed his trade until his removal to Pokagon, where he has since resided. In 1841, he was married to Miss Ursula, daughter of Archibald Clyborne, one of the prominent early set- tlers of the county. She was born in Giles County, Virginia, June 10, 1828, and came to Michigan with her parents. Of six children born to them, only one is living-Daniel K., who resides in Pokagon. But few men in Cass County have done as much to ad- vance its religious interests as he, and no name is more prominent in Methodist annals than his.
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